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File: FromTheBeginning May 29 2017

PARTTWO:GENESIS

IslifeasweknowittodaythewaythatGodoriginallyorderedit...alifeofsuffering,alifeofdisappointingmisery,andalifesubjecttodisease,deathandcorruption?DidGodintendforustobevexedwithevildayafterday?

Romans8:20-25MoffetFor creationwasnot rendered futile by its own choice, but by thewill ofHimwhothusmadeitsubject, thehopebeingthatcreationaswellasmanwouldonedaybefreedfromitsthralldom[slaveryorbondage]anddecayandgainthegloriousfreedomof God’s children. To this day, we know, the entire creation sighs and throbs withpain;andnotonlyso,butevenweourselves,whohavetheSpiritasaforetasteofthefuture,evenwesighdeeply toourselvesaswewait for theredemptionof thebodythatmeansourfullsonship.Weweresavedwiththisahead.Nowwhenanobjectofhope is seen, there is no further need to hope. Whoever hopes for what he seesalready?Butifwehopeforsomethingthatwedonotsee,wewaitforitpatiently.

Whydidthecreationfallintoitscurrentstateofbondageanddecay?Whydoweneedtheredemptionofthebody?Whatisourhope?

Isaiah59:20AKJV AndtheRedeemershallcometoZion,anduntothemthatturnfromtransgressionin Jacob,saiththeLORD.

WhywasthereaneedforaRedeemer?Toredeemmeans“topurchaseback;torescuefrombondage,captivity,orforfeiturebypayinganequivalent.”Interestingly,Webster’s1828Dictionarydefines“redeemer”as,“theSavioroftheworld,JesusChrist.”Hesays,“See:Titus2:13andRomans3:24.”

Hosea13:14AKJVIwill ransom them from thepowerof thegrave; Iwill redeem them fromdeath:Odeath,Iwillbethyplagues;Ograve,Iwillbethydestruction:repentanceshallbehidfrommineeyes.

GodpromisestoredeemHisPeoplefromthepowerofdeathandthegrave.GodsaysthatHewilldestroydeath.Whatcauseddeath?Whatexactlyisdeath?Whatbroughtabouttheneedforredemptionfromit?Howandwhenwillthisoccur?Isdeaththeentrancetoeternallife?

IfwearetofindtheanswersthatGodsuppliestothesequestionswemustbegininthebookofGenesis.WewillexaminethebiblicalrecordofhowGodorderedtheheavensandtheearthandconsidertheeventsthatoccurredwhichmadearedeemernecessary.

GodwillclearlyrevealHissolutiontotheubiquitoustroublesthatconfrontusdayafterday.HewantsustoknowthatweknowthatweknowthatHeis,bothtodayandeternally,aLivingGod


thatisapproachableandwillingtodeliverus.HewillshowusbeyondanyshadowofadoubthowwecanliveasmorethanconquerorsinHispresencetodayandforever.

TheFirstHeavenandEarth Genesis1:1AKJV

InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth.

Thewordfor“God”isElohimintheHebrewtext.ElohimisusedofGodastheCreator.TheHebrewaccentAthnachplacestheemphasisintheverseonGod,theCreator.

Theword“create”isthewordbaraintheHebrewandtheverbintheKalalwaysmeans“tobringintoexistence.”ItisonlyusedofGodcreating;producingthatwhichdidnotexistpreviously.Inthetruesenseoftheword,creatingissomethingthatonlyGodcando.

Whenmanspeaksofcreatingsomething,healwaysstartswithrawmaterialsandthenheassembles,molds,manufactures, builds, etc.Hedoesnot startwithnothing andbring somethingintoexistence.Hedoesnothavethepowertospeaksubstanceintobeing.Thisversespeaksoftheoriginalcreationoftheheavenandtheearth.

ThecreationitselfisproofofitsCreatorthesameasabuildingistheproofofitsbuilder,apaintingistheproofofitspainter,ablueprintistheproofofitsarchitect,orabookistheproofofits writer. The more we examine the makeup of the universe the more evidence we find of itsCreator.

WhendidGodcreatetheoriginalheavenandtheearth?TheWordofGodreveals thatHecreatedthem,“Inthebeginning . . .”Wecanspeculateaboutwhenthisoccurredasmuchaswelike,butGodonlyrevealsintheScripturesthatitwas“Inthebeginning...”

TheWordofGodisnotabookaboutscience,butwhenitspeaksofmattersthatpertaintoscienceitisaccurate.

Take any field of science,weigh the laws that govern it and arrive at the conclusion thatthere isnosupremeintelligence,designandpowerbehindit.Theverythoughtdefiesthe lawsoflogic.

Ifonecanbelieve that theheavenandtheearth,notonly theconditions thatsupport life,buteverylawthatworkstopreserveitsoperationandcontinuance,weretheresultofa“bigbang”,wehaveasmuchright–evenfar,farmorerightinviewoftheevidence–tobelievethetestimonyoftheWordofGodregardingit.

An explosiondoesnot cause order; it does just the opposite. It is farmoreplausible thatGod, in the beginning created the heaven and the earth according toHisWord. Even thosewhocomputeprobabilitiesagreethatitisfarmoreprobablethatGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearthratherthanitresultedfromsuchanevent.

EverymeticulousdetailthatmakesupthecreateduniverseatteststothegeniusoftheOneTrueGod.


How could such superb order in every category of the universe evolve from chaos andhaphazard chance? This defies the second law of thermodynamics, which states that over timeordertendstodisintegratetolessorder.1

Weknowwecouldnotbuildahouse,ormanufacturea car,orengineera computerwithsuchdesign,andyettherearethosewhothinkthatauniverse-havingnomind,willorabilityofitsown-couldsomehowintelligentlydevelopitself.Iwouldhatetoliveinahouseordriveacarthatthesefolksbuilt,wouldn’tyou?

Bytheway,wheredidspace,time,energy,light,matter,information,andlifecomefromifGoddidnot create them?Wheredid thematerials andenergyanddesignandpower come fromthatfueledthesupposed“BigBang”?

Arewetobelievethatsomethingcamefromnothingof itsownvolition;ordercamefromchaos, and life suddenly sprang from lifeless objects? Are we really to believe that billions ofgalaxies came from one explosion and that it caused the precise rate of the expansion of theuniverse without it collapsing on itself? There has never been an explosion that produced suchperfectorder.

Letusconsiderforamomentthehistoryofscience.Thelegendaryscientistswhotodayareknown as patriarchs in their fields, such as Bacon, Kepler, Newton and Galileo (among others)believedthatGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearthandawell-organizeduniverse.Theargumenttoday thatsciencemustreject that“In thebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth”deniesitsownhistory.

Astrophysicist,Dr.HughRoss calculated that the probability of 122 anthropic constants,2(such as, earth’s oxygen level, atmospheric transparency, moon-earth gravitational interaction,carbon dioxide level, gravity, centrifugal force, rate of expansion of the universe, speed of light,watervaporlevels,Jupiter’sorbit,thethicknessoftheearth’scrust,theearth’srotation,theearth’saxis tilt, atmospheric discharge, seismic activity, etc.), existing on any particular planet withoutDivineDesignisonechancein10138.

Togiveyouanideaofhowslimthechancesareofthishappening,bycomparison,thereareonly about 1070 atoms in the entire universe! According to the scientific laws of probability,anythingsmallerthan1045,thechanceofaneventoccurringisZERO.

The laws of probability indicate that there is not a single chance that this planet, or anyotherforthatmatter,couldhavealltheconditionsthatsupportlifewithoutDivineDesignbehindit.3

1Entropy provides information about the development of an isolated system over time. If we could take snapshots

of a system at two different points of time, it would show that one state is more disordered than the other and it implies that this state came later in time. For an isolated system, the natural course of events takes the system to a more disordered (higher entropy) state.

2 Anthropic constants are narrowly defined principles that support human life. 3 (Ross 2001) page 224.


If theBigBangwas thecauseof theuniverse,why is theearth theonlyplanetcapableofsustaininglife?Oh,Iforgot;wemerelyhavenotfoundtheothersyet.

It ismathematically,statistically,andscientificallyfarmoreplausiblethatGodcreatedthefirstheavenandearththantosupposethatabigbangcausedit,andthatspontaneouslylifeandallof the laws that govern the operation of the universe were initiated and coincidentally work inconcerttogether...perpetually.WhynottakeGodatHisWord?

All studies in true, empirical science base the truth in its field on consistent, repeatableconclusionsthatprovetobereliable.Proofsarethenformulatedintolaws.

Despite this,men comeupwith an ideaand theorize about theunknown.Then they touttheirspeculationortheoryabovetherevelationknowledgeoftheWordofGod.

Theyactuallyconsidertheirunsubstantiatedtheories(suchastheBigBangandevolution),which they derive from their limited understanding and imagination, to be more vital than therevelationknowledgethatGodrevealsinHisWord.

Ifamanthinksthathis ideasandopinionsaremoreimportantthantheWordofGod,themanmightaswellsaythatheisGod.Surely,ahighereducationorahighIQqualifiesapersontobetheCreator.

Theheavensandtheearthdidnotcreatethemselves,nororderthemselves,norcreatethelawsoftheirgovernance,norinitiatethem,norsustaintheirperpetualoperation.

God’s work to create life, the heaven and the earth, and to put the laws in motion thatgovernthemisvastlysuperiortoman’sfeebleattemptstospeculateabouttheirorigins.

Onewouldthinkthatwhenamandiscoversaphysical lawthatGodcreated,hewouldbeawedandhumbledbyHisbrillianceasweremanyrenownedscientistslikeBacon,Kepler,Pascal,Newton,Kelvin,Mendel,Morse,Einsteinandmanyothers.TheygreatlyadmiredGod’shandiwork.

The German scientist, Johann Kepler, a forefather in the fields of mathematics andastronomy said, "I am merely striving to think God's thoughts after Him." He believed that hispurpose as a mathematician and scientist was to discover the mathematical equation that Godutilizedtoestablishtheorderoftheuniverse.HebelievedthatGodisaGodoforderandthattheuniversewascreatedastheresultofHisDivineDesign.

Laws express truths that are consistent, whereas theories are nothing more thanunsubstantiatedguesses.

Thereisneveraconflictbetweentrue,provenscienceandthetruthoftheWordofGod.Thesame God who instituted the laws that govern the universe also gave us His Word. Both areexpressionsofHisWillandDesign.

God is a supernatural power. Whether we are considering creation, salvation, answeredprayer,Hisdeliverancefromincurablediseases,miracles,resurrection,eternallife,therevealingofHisWord,orthelawsofnature,Godisthesupernaturalforcebehindallofthem.

HeistheDesignerbehindboththenaturalrealmandthespiritualrealm.

Godsetthenaturallawsinmotion.TheyareanexpressionofHiswillanddesign.


God canworkwithin these natural laws or He canwork on a higher plane - that of thesupernatural.AllHiswordsandHisworksdemonstratethistruth.

The history of God’s dealings with His People recorded in His Word chronicle themanifestationofHissupernaturalpower.

Fromthecreationoftheheavensandtheearth,totherestorationofthisheavenandearth;tothegivingofHisWord,toforming,makingandcreatingman,totheDivineconceptionofHisSon,toraisingJesusChristfromthedead;tothenewbirth,tothegatheringtogetheroftheChurchintothe heavenlies, to the resurrection of God’s people from the dead; to the new heavens and newearththatHewillbringabout–allaredemonstrationsofHissupernaturalpower.

Truthalwaysworkswith reliable consistencyand itdoesnot contradict itself.This isnotonly trueaboutmatterspertaining tosciencebutof spiritualmattersaswell.Men’s theoriesandtheirreligioustraditionsareanaltogetherdifferentmatter.

Theoriesarenotlawsandweshouldnotembracethemastruthuntiltheyareproven.True,provenscience (which is concernedwith thephysical lawsofnature)and theWordofGodmustagreesincethesameGodthatcreatedtheheavenandtheearthistheOnewhogaveHisWord.

Whenitcomestoreligioustraditions,weshouldunderstandthehistoryoftheiroriginsaswell.WemustmeasureanytraditionagainstthetestimonyofGod’sWordtoseeifitistrue.

If there seems to be a discrepancy between theWord of God and science or religion theproblemcomesfromourlackofunderstandingduetopredeterminedideas,lackofinformationorerroneoussuppositions.

WecannotsaythattheWordofGodisnottruebecausewecannotexplainhowGodcreatedthe heaven and earth. How can man with his limited, finite understanding critique God’sperformance?Juststatingthequestionsoundsabsurd.

Romans1:19and20NIVSincewhatmaybeknownaboutGodisplaintothem,becauseGodhasmadeitplainto them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternalpoweranddivinenature -havebeenclearlyseen,beingunderstood fromwhathasbeenmade,sothatpeoplearewithoutexcuse.

ThecreationistheproofofitsCreator.Itisself-evident,obvious;itisaxiomatic.Themorewediscoverabout thecreateduniverse, thehumanbody,orofanyparticular fieldof science thefurtheritsubstantiatesthistruth.

The power of God and HisWord are set forth at the very commencement of revelation.God’sWordalwaysaccomplishesHispurposes.HeavenandearthmoveatHisWord.NothingistoohardforHimbecauseHeisall-powerful.GodisinfinitelycapableofperformingHisWord.NothingcankeepHimfromHispurposes.WhenHespeaks,thatsettlesit.

ThegospelofJohndrawsourattentiontothesametruth.


John1:1-4AKJVInthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.ThesamewasinthebeginningwithGod.Allthingsweremadebyhim;andwithouthimwasnotanythingmadethatwasmade.Inhimwaslife;andthelifewasthelightofmen.

AllfromheretoeternityhingesonGod’sabilitytoperformHisWord.YoucannotseparateGodfromHisWordanymorethanIcanseparateyoufromyourword.

Verse three, says, “All thingsweremadebyhim . . .” Theword “made” in the Greek isginomai, which means, “to come into existence; implying origin”. God brought all things intoexistence.Whynot takeHimatHisWord? “In thebeginningGodcreated theheavenand theearth.”

Let’sgobacktoGenesis1.

Genesis1:2AKJVAnd the earthwaswithout form, and void; and darknesswas upon the face of thedeep.AndtheSpiritofGodmoveduponthefaceofthewaters.

Verseoneendswiththeword“earth”andthenversetwobeginsbyrepeatingit.Thisistheuseofthefigureofspeech,Anadiplosis,whichistherepetitionofthesamewordorwordsattheendof one sentence and at the beginning of the one that follows. The figure emphasizes that whatfollows focuses on the earth, while verse one spoke of the creation of both the heavens and theearth.

Versetworeveals,“Andtheearthwaswithoutform,andvoid;anddarknesswasuponthefaceofthedeep...”Theword“was”appearstwiceinversetwo;thefirstisinregulartypeandthesecondinitalictype.

Whyisitalictypeused?ItalictypeidentifieswordsthatwerenotintheHebrewtextfromwhichtheEnglishistranslated.

TheKingJamesorAuthorizedVersionusuallysignalsusastowordsthattheyaddedusingitalictype.ThetranslatorsofthisversionoftheBibledecidedtoinsertitalicizedwordsintendingtohelpthereaderbetterunderstandtheirtranslationoftheHebrewtext.

Thewords theyaddedarenotapartof theGod-breathedoriginal– theyarenotDivinelyinspired. These insertions may be helpful or at times they may be misleading. Italicized wordscannotbeusedforthepurposeofinterpretation.

The first “was” in verse two is the Hebrew word, hayah. It is frequently translated “tobecome”or“tocometopass”.AccordingtoMartinAnsteyinChronologyoftheOldTestament:

TheHebrewverbhayahheretranslated“was”,signifiesnotonly“tobe”butalso“tobecome”,“totakeplace”,“tocometopass”.WhenaHebrewwritermakesasimpleaffirmation,ormerelypredicatestheexistenceofanything,theverbhayahisneverexpressed. Where it is expressed, it must always be translated by our verb “to


become”, never by the verb “to be” ifwe desire to convey the exact shade of themeaningoftheOriginal.4

Genesis 1:2a, therefore, reads, “. . . and the earth becamewithout form and void anddarknessuponthefaceofthedeep.”Goddidnotcreatetheheavenandtheearth“withoutformandvoid”inthebeginning–itbecamethatway.

The Hebrew for “without form and void” is tohu va bohu. What was God’s purpose informingtheearth?

Isaiah45:18AKJVForthussaiththeLORDthatcreatedtheheavens;Godhimselfthatformedtheearthand made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to beinhabited:IamtheLORD;andthereisnoneelse.

Isaiah reveals that God “. . . formed the earth andmade it; hehath established it, hecreateditnotinvain...”Thewords,“invain”,aretheHebrewtohu.Goddidnotcreatetheearthwithoutformandvoid–itbecamethatway.

Itfurtherrevealsthat,“heformedittobeinhabited”.Heformedtheearthtosustainlifesothatitcouldbeinhabited.

Jeremiah4:23and24AKJVIbeheldtheearth,and, lo, itwaswithout formandvoid;andtheheavens,andtheyhadno light. Ibeheldthemountains,and, lo, theytrembled,andall thehillsmovedlightly.

“Without form and void” is tohu va bohu.Whenwe read that therewas no light in theheavens, mountains trembled, and all the hills moved as though they were light-weight, we arereadingofcatastrophiceventsofdestruction.

Inthebook,FiguresofSpeechUsedintheBible,onpages251and252,Dr.Bullingerwritesconcerningtheheavenandtheearth:

Both were created “in the beginning.” But the earth, at some time, and by somemeans, and from some cause (not stated) became a ruin – empty, waste, anddesolate;or,asitisexpressedbyanotherFigure(Paronomasia,q.v.),tohuandbohu.Now,whatevermaybethemeaningoftohu,itisexpresslystated,inIsaiah45:18,byHimwhocreatedtheearththat“Hecreateditnottohu.”Therefore, itmustat,andaftersomesubsequentperiodofunknownduration,havefallenintotheruinwhichthesecondversedeclaresanddescribes.

The repetition of the word “earth” here directs our attention to this fact; andproceedstodescribetheprocessbywhichtheearthwasrestoredandpeopled.

4 (Anstey 1973) page 62.


What caused it to become tohu va bohu; without form and empty?We are not given theanswer inGenesis,but ifweconsider therecordsof Isaiah14:12and following,Ezekiel28:12 ff,Revelation12,andLuke4:6wewillfindtheanswer.

These records reveal that Lucifer hadbeen inEden, the gardenofGod.Hewas a createdspirit being, called, “the anointed cherub which covereth” (to cover, so as to secure, or toprotect5).Hewasanarchangel.

Hewasperfectinbeautyandeverypreciousstonewashiscovering.Hewasabrilliantspiritbeing(nachash:shiningone)andfullofwisdomuntilhebecamecorrupt.

He inspiredrebellionamongtheangels throughhisslanderouswordsagainstGodandheattemptedtoexalthisthroneaboveGod’sthroneintheheavens.

Isaiah14:14,says,“.. .IwillbeliketheMostHigh”.The“MostHigh”inHebrewisElyon.This title signifies that God is possessor of the heavens and the earth, thuswe can see Lucifer’sdesiretoseizeGod’sdominionofthem.

He said, “I will be like . . .” Lucifer desired to be like the Most High. He attempts tocounterfeit the thingsofGod.A counterfeit is only successful to thedegree that it passes for theoriginal. All that the adversary does is to be like the One True God, but in the end, he remainsnothingmorethanacounterfeiter.

One third of the angels followed him in his unsuccessful revolt, which resulted in theirdownfall.ThisrebellionbroughtabouttheruinofthefirstheavenandearthwereadofinGenesis1:2a.

IIPeter3:5-7ASV For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earthcompactedoutofwaterandamidstwater,by thewordofGod;bywhichmeans theworld that then was, being overflowedwith water, perished: but the heavens thatnoware,andtheearth,bythesamewordhavebeenstoredupforfire,beingreservedagainstthedayofjudgmentanddestructionofungodlymen.

Thisrevealsthatthecurrentheavenandearthwillhaveadifferentendthanthatofthefirstheavenandearth.

Theseversesrevealapreviousworlddelugedwithwater.Itperished.Thewordisapollumiwhichmeans“todestroy,causetoperish,tobeutterlyandfinallyruinedanddestroyed,broughttonothing”.Itexpressesfinalandirretrievabledestruction.

Thiswas the firstheavenandearthofGenesis1:1and2a,which“becamewithout formand void”. It became without form and empty. Nothing survived this cataclysmic event: it wasutterlydestroyed.

Between the creation of the first heaven and the earth “in the beginning”, and thecatastrophethatrenderedthemaruinandemptythereisanundefinedperiodoftime.

5 Wilson 1990.


Scientists see the evidence that cataclysmic events tookplace, but they can only theorizeaboutwhat caused them. Science is inductive investigation. Scientists learn the sameway that adetectivelearns;theygathercluesandthendrawconclusions.

TheWordofGod,ontheotherhand,islikewatchingavideorecordingoftheevent.GodgivesusafirsthandaccountofwhathappenedinHisWord.

TheWordofGodgivesusanaccuraterecordofwhatoccurred. It issilentconcerningtheageofthefirstheavenandearthandhowmuchtimeelapsedbetweenGenesis1:1andGenesis1:2.Therecouldhavebeenalengthyperiodbetweenthem.

Inhis,ChronologyoftheOldTestament,MartinAnsteywrites:

Genesis1:2doesnotdescribeastage in theprocessof thecreation,butadisasterwhichbefellthecreatedearth;theoriginalcreationoftheheavensandtheearthischronicledinGenesis1:1.Thenextverse,Genesis1:2,isastatementofthedisorder,the ruin, and the state of desolation intowhich the earth subsequently fell.Whatfollows in Genesis 1:3-31 is the story of the restoration of a lost order by thecreativewordofGod.6

The first heaven and earthwas destroyed and perished alongwith all the life on it. Thecurrentheavenandearthare the secondheavenandearth,whichGodspeaksofhere inGenesis1:2bandfollowing.

Further,theWordofGodinstructsusthataftertheendofthiscurrentsecondheavenandearththerewillbeathirdheavenandearth.

IIPeter3:12and13AKJVLookingforandhastinguntothecomingofthedayofGod,whereintheheavensbeingonfireshallbedissolved,andtheelementsshallmeltwithferventheat?Neverthelesswe, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, whereindwellethrighteousness.

Theseversesspeakoftheendofthecurrentheavenandearthandof“newheavensandanewearth”whichareyetfuture.Thesewillbethethirdheavenandthirdearth.TheApostlePaulmentionsthesealso.

IICorinthians12:1-4AKJVItisnotexpedientformedoubtlesstoglory.IwillcometovisionsandrevelationsoftheLord. I knewaman inChrist above fourteenyears ago, (whether in thebody, Icanottell;orwhetheroutofthebody,Icannottell:Godknoweth;)suchanonecaughtup [harpazo: to catch away, not up] to the third heaven. And I knew such a man,(whetherinthebody,oroutofthebody,Icannottell:Godknoweth;)Howthathewascaughtup[harpazo:tocarryaway]intoparadise,andheardunspeakablewords,whichitisnotlawfulforamantoutter.

6 Anstey 1973.


GodgavePaulsuchvividrevelationthathecouldnottellwhetherhewasactuallythereorifhehadhadavisionofthisfuturereality.Hecouldnottellifhewas“inthebody”,meaningthathewasactuallythereor ifhewas“outofthebody”,meaningthathereceivedrevelation.Itwasthatvivid.

Therevelationconcernedthethirdheavenandparadise,whichwillexistonthethirdearth.GodshowedhimthefutureconcerningthethirdheavenandparadisebutHedidnotpermithimtocommunicatetherevelation.

Godgavetherevelationofthingstocome,includingthenewheavenandnewearthtoHisapostle,John,andHeinstructedhimtorecordit.

Revelation21:1-5AKJVAnd I sawanewheavenandanewearth: for the first [protos]heavenand the firstearthwerepassedaway;andtherewasnomoresea.AndIJohnsawtheholycity,newJerusalem,comingdownfromGodoutofheaven,preparedasabrideadornedforherhusband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle ofGod iswithmen,andhewilldwellwiththem,andtheyshallbehispeople,andGodhimselfshallbewiththem,andbetheirGod.AndGodshallwipeawayalltearsfromtheireyes;andthereshallbenomoredeath,neithersorrow,norcrying,neithershalltherebeanymorepain: fortheformer[protos] thingsarepassedaway.Andhethatsatuponthethronesaid,Behold,Imakeallthingsnew.Andhesaiduntome,Write:forthesewordsaretrueandfaithful.

Inverseone,theword“first”isprotos,thesamewordthatistranslated“former”inversefour.Protosmaymeaneither“first”or“former”.Theword“former”givesusthecorrectsensehereandfitswithalltheotherscripturesconcerningtheidenticalsubject.

Thisisnotthefirstheavenandearththatpassesaway;itistheformerheavenandearthinrelationtothenewheavenandearthspokenofhere.The“formerheavenandearth”isthesecondheavenandearththatexiststoday.

Thewordfor“new” inverseonedoesnotemphasizenew in thesenseof time,but in thesenseofquality.“Therewillbenomoredeath,neithersorrow,norcrying,neithershalltherebe anymore pain: for the former things are passed away.” This is not the quality of lifewecurrentlyenjoy, isit?Inthethirdheavenandearth,Godwillmakeallthingsnewagainandthesesorrowsshallpassaway.

Chapter22revealsthatthecursewillberemovedfromtheearthandthethroneofGodandoftheLamb(whoistheChrist)willbeinit.WewilllearnaboutthecurseinGenesis3.

Thequalityof theheavenandearth spokenofhere iswithoutadoubtdifferent from theearththatbecamewithoutformandvoidinGenesis1:1,anditisdifferentfromthesecondheavenandearththatexiststoday.

The Word of God speaks of three different, distinct heavens and earths. The three arespokenofinthesequenceoftime:past,presentandfuture.Theyarenotlayeredvertically,risinginheightfromthefirstuptothethird.


From Genesis 1:2b to Revelation 20 the Word of God primarily addresses the current,secondheavenandearth.WecannotknowmoreaboutthefirstorthirdheavensandearthsthantheWordofGodrevealstous.

TheRestorationoftheSecondHeavenandEarth

GoingbacktoGenesis1:2b,weread:

Genesis1:2b-5AKJVAndtheSpiritofGodmoveduponthefaceofthewaters.AndGodsaid,Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight.AndGodsawthelight,thatitwasgood:andGoddividedthelight from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he calledNight.Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefirstday.

This is not dealingwith the so-called seven days of creation, but of the restoring of thatwhichhadbecometohuvabohu,withoutformandvoid.Thisisspeakingofthesecondheavenandearth.

God is not creating the first heaven and earth; He is restoring or reorganizingwhat hadbecomeruined,empty,anddark.

At this point, “the Spirit of Godmoved . . . AndGod said . . .”He spokeHisWord; Hemoved or went into action and accomplished that which He spoke. The All-Powerful Godaccomplished what He said. He brought HisWord to pass. Throughout the opening chapters ofGenesis,GodspeaksHisWordandsoitbecomes.

GodisSpiritandHegaveusthespirituallightofHisWord.TheWordofGodisaliveanditispowerful becauseHe is the power behind it. God’sWord discriminates betweenmatters that noothersourcecan.Hecandowhatnootherspiritbeingorhumanbeingcandowiththeirword.Weshouldneverforgetthiscruciallesson.

God’s first order of businesswas to reintroduce light. He spokeHisWord and therewaslight...itdoesnotsaysun,moonandstars...itsayslight.

Isthereasourceoflightotherthanthesun?

IJohn1:5AKJVThisthenisthemessagewhichwehaveheardofhim,anddeclareuntoyou,thatGodislight,andinhimisnodarknessatall.

Godislight.Thisversestatesthetruthbothpositivelyandnegatively:GodislightandthereisnodarknessinHimatall.Isthisonlyametaphor?

James1:17AKJVEvery good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from theFatheroflights,withwhomisnovariableness,neithershadowofturning.

Godis theFatherof lights; thesourceofall light, includingeverythingthatgeneratesandemitslight.Heisabsolutelight.ThereisnodarknessinHimatall.Thereisnothingtoobscureour


viewofHim–notevenashadowofturning.Hedoesnotchangeorvary.GodisthesametodayasHewasinthebeginning.

IICorinthians4:6AKJVFor God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in ourhearts,togivethelightoftheknowledgeofthegloryofGodinthefaceofJesusChrist.

ThisversecomparesthelightthatGodcommandedtoshineoutofdarknessinGenesis1:3tothelightofHisWordconcerningJesusChrist.

ITimothy6:16AKJVWho only hath immortality [deathlessness], dwelling in the lightwhich noman canapproachunto;whomnomanhathseen,norcansee:towhombehonourandpowereverlasting.Amen.

Apparently,thereismuchmorewecanlearnaboutlight.Nomaninhismortalexistencehasever seen this light, nordoeshehave the ability, or resources to approach it. The sun is not theexclusivesourceoflight.Whereistheabodeoflight?

Weseeaverysmall fragmentof thespectrumof lightwiththehumaneye; from390-700nm.Theelectromagneticspectrum,asfarasweknow,coversawiderangeofphotonenergiesandwavelengthsfromgammarays,x-rays,ultravioletradiation,visiblelight, infraredlight,terahertzradiation,microwaveradiation,toradiowaves.

ThebookofRevelationprovidesuswithadditional insight concerning light.Theseversesarespeakingofafuturecityinthethirdheavenandearth.

Revelation 21:23-25 AKJV Andthecityhadnoneedofthesun,neitherofthemoon,toshineinit:forthegloryofGoddid lighten it,andtheLamb is the light thereof.Andthenationsof themwhicharesavedshallwalkinthelightofit:andthekingsoftheearthdobringtheirgloryandhonourintoit.Andthegatesofitshallnotbeshutatallbyday:forthereshallbenonightthere.

Thiscitywillexistonthethirdearth.Whywilltherenotbeanyneedforthesunormooninthiscity?ThegloryofGodandtheLambwillbeitslight.Therewillnotbeanynightinit.Thisisnotafigureofspeech.Thistruthisliteral.TheCreatorisgreaterlightthanthesunorthemoonthatHecreated.Heisthesourceoflight.

Bytheway,canascientistsaythatthisisnottruebecausehedoesnotunderstanditorthathecannotexplainit?Certainlynot!Ifhedoes,perhapsheneedsarefreshercourseinthehistoryofscience.

IntherecordinGenesis1,lightwasthefirstthingthatGodrestored–manwasthelast.Godrestoredeverythingnecessarytoprovideformanonearth.ThesequenceofeventslistedinGenesis1occurredintheorderrequiredtosupportlife.BoththeWordofGodandscienceagreeonthis.

Itsays,“Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefirstday.”Theeveningprecedesthemorning.TheHebrewreckoningofadaybeginsatsunsetandrunstothefollowingsunset.


When evening and morning are used together in theWord of God, it defines a 24-hourperiod.

Genesis1:6-8AKJVAndGodsaid,Lettherebeafirmamentinthemidstofthewaters,andletitdividethewatersfromthewaters.AndGodmadethefirmament,anddividedthewaterswhichwereunderthefirmamentfromthewaterswhichwereabovethefirmament:anditwasso.AndGodcalledthefirmamentHeaven.Andtheevening andthemorningwerethesecondday.

God divided the waters above the firmament from the waters below it. He called thefirmamentorexpanseheaven.Theword"firmament"intheHebrewtextisraqia.7

Astronomershavediscoveredhugehailstonesthatexistbeyondtheboundariesofearth’satmosphere.8Howdidtheygetthere?IftheyconsideredtherecordofGod’sWord,theywouldhaveaframeworkfromwhichtowork.

Genesis1:9and10AKJVAndGodsaid,Letthewatersundertheheavenbegatheredtogetheruntooneplace,andletthedrylandappear:anditwasso.AndGodcalledthedrylandEarth;andthegatheringtogetherofthewaterscalledheSeas:andGodsawthatitwasgood.

Godcollectedthewaterstogetherunderheavenintooneplaceandthedrylandappeared.Hecalledthedryland,earth,andthecollectionofwaters,seas.

Scientiststellusthatthecontinentswereonceconnected.Perhapsthehydroplates9oftheearth moved at the time of the flood in Noah’s day when “the fountains of the deep” wereopened.10 Scientists have recently discovered their existence. They have also identified “thespringsofthesea”ofwhichJob38:16speaks.Theserecordswerewrittenthousandsofyearsago,andyetthesescientificdiscoveriesarerelativelyrecent.

Genesis1:11-13AKJVAndGodsaid,Lettheearthbringforthgrass,theherbyieldingseed,andthefruittreeyieldingfruitafterhiskind[orgenus],whoseseed is in itself,upontheearth:andit

7 (Online Bible Edition 4.03 Combined System Library 2013) Hebrew Lexicon: 07549 raqiya (raw-kee'-ah): from 07554; nm; AV - firmament 17; 1) extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament 1a) expanse (flat as base, support) 1b) firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above) 1b1) considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above. 8 See: Job 38:22 and 23; Joshua 10:11 and ff; Revelation 16:21. 9 "What is a hydroplate? Before the global flood, considerable water was under earth's crust. Pressure increases in this subterranean water rupturing that crust, breaking it into plates. The escaping water flooded the earth. Because hydro means water, those crustal plates will be called hydroplates. Where they broke, how they moved, and hundreds of other details and evidence - all consistent with the laws of physics - constitute the hydroplate theory and explain to a great extent why the earth looks as it does." (Brown, Fountains of the Great Deep-Hydroplate Theory 2013) . 10 See: Genesis 7:11.


wasso.Andtheearthbroughtforthgrassandherbyieldingseedafterhiskind,andthetreeyieldingfruit,whoseseedwasinitself,afterhiskind:andGodsawthatitwasgood.Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethethirdday.

Inverse11,Godsays,“Lettheearthbringforthgrass,theherbyieldingseed.. . .”Theexpression“yieldingseed”intheHebrewis“seedingseed”.

Godtheninstructsusthatgrass,theherb,andfruittreewillyieldfruitafteritskind,anditsseedisinitself.Heinstructsusthateachplantwastoreproduceafteritskindorgenus.

Lifeispassedonintheseed.Godrevealsthistruthaboutbothplantsandanimalsinverses11,12,21,24,and25.

Everyplantandanimal, includingman,has seed in itself and reproducesafter itskindorgenus.

Planthybridsdevelopedbymancannotproduceseedsthatreproduce;theyareonlygoodforoneplanting.

GodisemphasizedineveryactintheopeningsectionofGenesis.HespokeHisWordanditbecameareality.Godrestoredtheearthsothat itcouldbehabitableonceagain.HerestoredtheheavensandtheearthmakingthemoperationalorfunctionalbyHissupernaturalpower.

Genesis1:14-19AKJVAndGod said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the dayfrom thenight; and let thembe for signs, and for seasons, and fordays, andyears:Andletthembeforlightsinthefirmamentoftheheaventogivelightupontheearth:anditwasso.AndGodmadetwogreatlights;thegreaterlighttoruletheday,andthelesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in thefirmamentof theheaven togive lightupon theearth,And to ruleover thedayandover the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it wasgood.Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefourthday.

NoticethateverythingGodisdoingistoprovidefortheearthandthosewhowillinhabitit.Godputthelightsinthefirmamentofheaventodividethedayfromthenight;forsignsandseasonsand fordaysandyears.Oneof their functionswas togive lightupon theearth.Another functionwastoprovideareferencefortime,andyetanotherwastomarksignsandseasons.

Thereismoreintheseversesthanwemayfirstnotice.“Signs”intheHebrewisoth,anditmeans,“thingstocome”.

Psalm19alsospeaksoftheteachingsrecordedintheheavenconcerningthingstocome.

Psalm19:1-6AKJVTothechiefMusician,APsalmofDavid.TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod;andthefirmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night untonightshewethknowledge.There isnospeechnor language,where theirvoice isnotheard.Theirlineisgoneoutthroughalltheearth,andtheirwordstotheendoftheworld.Inthemhathhesetatabernacleforthesun,Whichisasabridegroomcoming


outofhischamber,andrejoicethasastrongmantorunarace.Hisgoingforthisfromtheendoftheheaven,andhiscircuituntotheendsofit:andthereisnothinghidfromtheheatthereof.

Howdo theheavens“declare thegloryofGod”?Howdo they“utterspeech” andshowknowledgenightafternight?

Before God gave His written Word, He “wrote” His Word in the heavens to mark a“bridegroomcomingoutofhischamber”.Theheavensspeakof“theseedofthewoman”whowas“theComingOne”,theLordJesusChrist.Heisthecomingbridegroomspokenofhere.

Nightafternight,theknowledgecontainedinthestarpicturesteachesaboutthecomingoftheChrist andhis accomplishments. “Theirwords”,meaningwhat the starpictures teach, coverthewholeearthnightafternight.

The star pictures teach that the only hope forman, aswell as for the creation, is foreverattachedtothecomingRedeemer.

Whenyouobservetheconstellations,youwillnoticethattheydonotformanoutlineofthepicturesthattheyillustrate.Thepicturesarepurelyarbitrary.

God startedwith the revelation knowledge of the comingRedeemer. ThenHe “drew” thestarpicturesthatsymbolizedtheteachingandtaughtHispeopletheirsignificance.Eachgenerationpassedtheknowledgeontothenext.

The information contained in the star pictures concern “things to come”. This record iscalledtheZodiac.Itconsistsoftwelveconstellations.ThepathoftheSun,asitpassesthroughtheseconstellations,divides theZodiac into twelvestarpictures that teachof the “ComingOne”who isChrist.

“Zodiac”comesfromtheHebrewSodiwhichmeans“away,orstep”,anditisusedfor,“thewayorpathinwhichthesunappearstomoveamongthestarsinthecourseoftheyear.”11

InGenesis3,wewillconsiderAdam’sruin.Afterthistime,therewasaneedforaredeemer.Genesis 3:15 is the first reference to the coming Redeemer. God “penned” the revelation of hiscomingintheheavens.

The revelation of the coming Redeemer begins with the promised seed depicted in theconstellation of Virgo, and it concludes with the triumph of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. TheconstellationLeodepictsthefinalconquestofChristwhocrushestheheadoftheserpent,thedevil.

FromtheconstellationVirgototheconstellationLeo,boththesufferingsofChristandthegloryofChristaresetforth.

TheHebrewwordfor“seasons”inGenesis1:14means“appointedtimes”or“settimes”.ItappearsthreemoretimesinGenesis.

11 Bullinger, Witness of the Stars 1893, 1987, page 15; Dr. V.P. Wierwille, Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, gives an extensive Bibliography; pages 279-295. The Bible refers to astronomy, not the counterfeit known as astrology. God forbids the worship of the heavens. See Isaiah 47:12-14.


Genesis17:21AKJVButmycovenantwillIestablishwithIsaac,whichSarahshallbearuntotheeatthissettimeinthenextyear.

Genesis18:14AKJVIs anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee,accordingtothetimeoflife,andSarahshallhaveason.

Genesis21:2AKJVForSarahconceived,andbareAbrahamasoninhisoldage,atthesettimeofwhichGodhadspokentohim.

RecallGenesis1:14;“They(thesun,moon,andstars)shallbeforsigns(thingstocome)andforseasons(settimes,appointedtimesorcycles)."Bullingerwrites:

Here, then,wehave a distinct declaration fromGod, that the heavens containnotonly a Revelation concerning things to come in the ‘Signs,’ but also concerningappointedtimesinthewondrousmovementsofthesunandmoonandstars.12

OneoftheeventsthattheheavensdeclareisrecordedinthebookofRevelation.

Revelation12:1AKJVAndthereappearedagreatwonderinheaven;awomanclothedwiththesunandthemoonunderherfeetanduponherheadacrownoftwelvestars:

This speaks of a great sign that occurred in heaven. Several celestial events occurredsimultaneously.TheconstellationVirgopicturesawomanwhohadacrownoftwelvestarsonherhead.Intherecordhere,sheisclothedwiththesunandthemoonwasunderherfeet.Whatisthemeaningofthisgreatsign?

Eachyear,asthesunmovesthroughtheecliptic(theapparentannualpathofthesunonthecelestialsphereasitpassesthroughthetwelveconstellationsofthezodiac),itpassesthroughthemid-bodyofVirgo,“clothingherwiththesun”,asRevelation12:1states.AstronomerstellusthatthiseventoccurredfromAugust27untilSeptember15in3B.C.

Therevelationfurthertellsusthat,“themoonwasunderher[Virgo’s]feet”.In3B.C.,thisonlyoccurredononeday,September11.

The word for “wonder” is semeion or “sign”. The heavenly sign noted here is theastronomicaleventthatannouncedthebirthofChrist.

Astronomers tell us that this celestial event occurred on September 11, 3 B.C. during aneighty-one-minutewindow,betweensunsetat6:18P.M.andmoonsetat7:39P.M.13

12 Ibid. 13 Wierwille, Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed 1982, pages 61-74, provides excellent references in the bibliography on pages 279-295 to substantiate this. When the biblical record, astronomy, and history are combined they confirm this date.


ThebirthofChristisbutoneexampleofthethingssignifiedbytheZodiac.Thebiblicalrecord,history,andastronomyallagreeconcerningthissubject.WewillconsiderhistoryandthebiblicalrecordwhenweexaminetheeventssurroundingthebirthofChrist.

The Word of God is truth. Many times, truth and tradition do not agree. If we are tounderstandwhethera tradition is founded in truthornot,wemustcompare it toGod'sWord; italonecanseparatetruthfromerror.

Weshouldtrackanyparticulartraditiontoitsorigin.TraditionoftenmakesitmoredifficulttounderstandtheWordofGod;itcolorsourperceptionandunderstanding.Attimes,wemayreadthewordsintheWordofGodbutthinkabouttheminlightofwhatwehavebeentaughtorinlightoftradition.

Ifweare to learn from theWordofGod,wemustbe certain thatweare readingwhat isactually written and not reading into what it says based on our preconceived ideas. It mightsurpriseyoutofindouttheoriginofsomeofthethingsembracedaschurchdoctrinetoday.

Theheavensdeclareboththerevelationofthingstocomeandtheyconcernappointedorsettimesinconnectionwiththemovementofthesun,moon,andstars.

LetusreturntotheGenesisrecord.

Genesis1:20-23AKJVAndGod said, Let thewatersbring forthabundantly themoving creature thathathlife,andfowlthatmayflyabovetheearthintheopenfirmamentofheaven.AndGodcreated great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the watersbroughtforthabundantly,aftertheirkind,andeverywingedfowlafterhiskind:andGodsawthatitwasgood.AndGodblessedthem,saying,Befruitful,andmultiply,andfillthewatersintheseas,andletfowlmultiplyintheearth.Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefifthday.

TheHebrewwordfor“life”inverse20isnephesh,whichissoulorbreathlife.Onceagain,wereadthateachofthemovingcreatureshavingsoullifeweretobringforthabundantlyaftertheirkindorgenus.

Theseversesteachthatalllifecomesfromlife,andsecondly,thatlikekindsalwaysproducelikekinds.

Scientistshaveneverfoundaviolationofthislaw.Infact,scientistLouisPasteur,creditedwiththediscoveryoftheLawofBiogenesis,provedthatlifeonlycomesfromlife.Hisexperimentsinvalidatedtheideaofthespontaneousgenerationoflifefromnon-livingmatter(abiogenesis).

Everylivingthingproducesafteritskindorgenus.Tothisday,wedonotfindbirdypigsorfishy men (at least not in this sense). Birds produce birds, reptiles produce reptiles, animalsproduceanimals,etc.AlllifecamefromGod.

Genesis1:24and25AKJVAndGodsaid,Lettheearthbringforththe livingcreatureafterhiskind,cattle,andcreepingthing,andbeastoftheearthafterhiskind:anditwasso.AndGodmadethe


beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing thatcreepethupontheearthafterhiskind:andGodsawthatitwasgood.

Everylivingcreature–wingedfoul,seacreature,cattle,creepingthing,andbeast–wastobringforthafteritskindorgenus.Thistruthisrepeatedthreetimesinverses11-13andsixtimesinverses20-25.

Mendel’s lawsexplainvariationswe find in speciesdue todifferent genetic combinationsthatoccur inbreeding.14Scientistshave identified theextinctionofcertainspecies,but theyhaveneverobservedanewspeciesforminginnature.15

Variations in species also occur due to "natural selection". Nature is not capable ofindependent thought or making its own decisions; it does not have a will of its own. Variationwithinspeciesistheresultofcomplexgeneticcombinations.

The truewonder of natural selection involves the Genius that planned and provided theabilitywithinagivenspeciestoadapttoachangingenvironmentsothatitcouldsurvive.

Bothplantsandanimalsgenerateprogeny thatmaydiffer from theparents in someway.Genetics, chance, circumstances,and theenvironmentare involved in thisprocess.Thus, someoftheprogenymayreproducemorethanothers,andthussurvive.

This is the only way that nature can "select" genetic characteristics well matched to acertain environment. This process also eliminates undesirable characteristics that threaten thesurvival of the species.Wemust understand that the natural selection process is not capable ofproducingnewgenes.

Howarethedifferentgenerapreserved?Alllivingthingshavevastamountsofinformationstoredintheircells.TheinformationisstoredinDNA.DNAisaninformationcode.DNApassestheinformation on toRNA. RNA then reads the information, decodes it, and then utilizes it tomakeproteins.

Ihavesomequestionsforyou.WheredidtheinformationintheDNAcodecomefrom?Howdiditgetthere?Whoorganizedit?Scientistsdonotknowofaprocessorasequenceofeventsoralawofnaturethatcancauseinformationtooriginatebyitselfinmatter.16

God is the supreme intelligence that designed the informational code. He “wrote” thecomplex program stored in the genetic information that every living creature requires for thephysicalprocessesoflife.17

Dr.WaltBrown,ascientistwhopreviouslyacceptedthetheoryofevolution,afteryearsofextensiveresearchtoresolvequestionshehadduetothetheory,arrivedattheconclusionthattheonly possible explanation for the origin of the heaven and the earth and life is that God createdthemastheWordofGodreveals.DealingwiththesubjectofDNA,hewrotethefollowing:

14 Brown, In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, 2008. 15 Stanley 1981, page 73. 16 Gitt, W. P. (2000). In the Beginning Was Information. Christliche Literatur-Verbreitung. 17 See note 23.


DNA cannot function without hundreds of preexisting proteins, but proteins areproducedonlyatthedirectionofDNA.Becauseeachneedstheother,asatisfactoryexplanationfortheoriginofonemustalsoexplaintheoriginoftheother.Therefore,the components of these manufacturing systems must have come into existencesimultaneously.Thisimpliescreation.

Some of these necessary proteins decode the DNA, store DNA (histones spools),transcribe DNA into messenger RNA, and assemble proteins (ribosomes). Thesesystems,presentineachcell,areextremelycomplex.

One of themost studied proteins inmammals, including humans, is called p53. ItbindstothousandsofDNAsitesandinfluencescellgrowth,death,andstructure.Itis involved in fertility and early embryonic development. It also stifles cancers byrepairing DNA, suppressing tumors, and killing genetically damaged cells. HowcouldDNAhavesurvivedunlessp53anditsmanyfunctionsalreadyexisted?

In each human, tens of thousands of genes are damaged daily! Also, when a celldivides, itsDNAattimesiscopiedwitherrors.Everyorganismhasmachinerythatidentifies and repairs damaged and mistranslated DNA. Without such repairsystems,theorganismwouldquicklydeteriorateanddie.Ifevolutionhadhappened,each organism would have become extinct before these DNA repair mechanismscouldevolve.

Life’s complexity is mind boggling - not something that random processes couldeverproduce.

If themany instructions thatdirectananimal’sorplant’s immunesystemhadnotbeen preprogrammed in the organism’s genetic systemwhen it first appeared onearth,thefirstofthousandsofpotentialinfectionswouldhavekilledtheorganism.This would have nullified any rare genetic improvements that might haveaccumulated.Inotherwords,thelargeamountofgeneticinformationgoverningtheimmune system could not have accumulated in a slow, evolutionary sense.Obviously,foreachorganismtohavesurvived,allthisinformationmusthavebeentherefromthebeginning.Again,creation.

Toclaimthatlifeevolvedistodemandamiracle.Thesimplestconceivableformofsingle-celled life should have at least 600 different protein molecules. Themathematical probability that even one typical protein could form by chancearrangementsofaminoacidsequences isessentiallyzero- far lessthan1 in10450.Toappreciatethemagnitudeof10450,realizethatthevisibleuniverseisabout1028inchesindiameter.

From another perspective, suppose we packed the entire visible universe with a“simple” form of life, such as bacteria. Next, supposewe broke all their chemicalbonds,mixedalltheiratoms,thenletthemformnewlinks.Ifthiswererepeatedabilliontimesasecondfor20billionyearsunderthemostfavorabletemperatureandpressureconditions throughout thevisibleuniverse,wouldevenonebacteriumof


any type reemerge? The chances are much less than one in 1099,999,999,873. Yourchancesof randomlydrawingonepreselectedatomoutofauniversepackedwithatomsareaboutonechancein10112-muchbetter.18

God’sexquisitehandiworkisastonishing,isn’tit?

Nowwecometoversetwenty-six.TheWordofGodintroducesmanintothenarrativeinatruly unique way. It does not mention his physical body, or the life of his flesh; He waits untilchapter two todiscuss themwhenheexpandson the eventsmentioned in chapterone.HereHespeaksoftheuniqueelementthatdistinguishedmanfromeveryotherlivingcreature.

Genesis1:26and27AKJVAndGodsaid;Letusmakeman inour image,afterour likeness:and let themhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andoverthecattle,andoveralltheearth,andovereverycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth.SoGodcreatedmaninhisown image,intheimageofGodcreatedhehim;maleandfemalecreatedhethem.

Whydoesitsay,“AndGodsaid...”andthenchangeto,“Letus...”andthenchangebackto,“SoGod...?”

“Letus”, is theusageof the figureof speechheterosis,which is anexchangeof onevoice,mood,tense,person,number,degree,orgender,foranother.

Hereitchangesfromthesingulartothepluralandthenbacktothesingular.Theexchangeof theplural for the singular emphatically drawsour attention to the importanceofwhatGod isabouttosay.

Heterosisisalsoknownas“theroyalwe”,suchas“We,theQueen”.Athletesandcelebritiesuseitoftentimes.Thefigurelendsimportancetotheonespeakingandwhattheyaresaying.

Further, to capture our attention He uses another figure of speech, hendiadys. Hendiadysusestwowordstoexpressonething.Thetwowordsare,“image”and“likeness”.Thesearenottwodifferentthings;theyarethesame.

One of the two words expresses the thing, and the other intensifies it by beingchanged (if a noun) into an adjective of the superlative degree, which is, by thismeans,madeespeciallyemphatic.19

Heusesathirdfigureofspeechtomarkthesignificanceofthisremarkableevent.

SoGodcreatedmaninHisownimage,intheimageofGodcreatedHehim;maleand femalecreatedHethem.

18 Brown, In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood 2008. 19 Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible: Explained and Illustrated. 1975 ed, page 657.


Theword“image”attheendofthefirststatementisrepeatedandbeginsthesecond.Thisistheuseofthefigure,anadiplosis,thesamefigureusedattheendofGenesis1:1andthebeginningofversetwo.HerepeatsthewordsandtherebyplacestheemphasiswhereHedesires.

The words, “createdman . . . in His own image” and then, “in the image of God . . .createdHehim”. Thewords are repeated in the reverseorder or backwards.This is the figure,epanodos.Thisagaindrawsourattentiontothe“imageofGod”.

Ifthatwasnotenough,Herepeatstheword,“create”threetimes,whichgrammaticallywasnotnecessary.Thisisthefigurerepetition.GoddoesnotwantustomissthecrucialtruththatHeiscreatingsomethingthatpreviouslydidnotexist.

OnlyGodcouldmarkHisWordwithsuchbrilliantprecision.HeuseseveryliterarydevicepossibletoseizeourattentionandalertustotheimportanceofthetruththatHeisrevealinghere.Afigureofspeechworksthesameasanemergencysiren.Whenwehearit,westopandtakenoteofwhatiscoming.

ThetruththatGodisimpressinguponusisthatHecreatedmaninHisimage.

WhatisGod’simageorlikeness?Genesis1:2said,“...theSpiritofGodmoved...”

John4:24AKJVGodisaSpirit:andtheythatworshiphimmustworshiphiminspiritandintruth.

God isSpirit. Spirit life is adifferent categoryof life than soul life. Soul life is common tohumansandanimals;itisbreathlife.Soullifeismortal;itissubjecttodeath.

God is not subject to death, nor doesHe consist of flesh andbones. Goddoes not have ahuman form.He isSpirit.“NomanhathseenGodatany time. . . ” according to John1:18.Youcannotsee,hear,smell,taste,ortouchspirit.

TheWordofGodmakesadefinitedistinctionbetweensoulandspirit.

Hebrews4:12AKJVForthewordofGod isquick,andpowerful,andsharperthananytwoedgedsword,piercingeventothedividingasunderofsoulandspirit,andofthejointsandmarrow,andisadiscernerofthethoughtsandintentsoftheheart.

TheWord of God distinguishes between soul and spirit. Soul is natural life and spirit issupernatural life. Scientists cannot create either one from scratch. The human eye cannot detecteitherone;itcanonlyseethemanifestationoreffectoflife.

TheWordofGodspeaksofsoulandspiritastwoseparateentities.

God created Adam in His image or likeness – spirit. Whenever God creates, He bringssomethingintoexistenceforthefirsttime.

Genesis1:26and27singlesoutandemphasizesthatGodcreatedmaninHisimage,whichisspirit.


Whyissoul lifeorthebodynotmentionedintheseverses?Goddoesnotwantustomissthis vital truth;He createdman inHis image, that of spirit. He establishedHis relationshipwithAdambasedonspirit.

ThespiritiswhatmadeAdamandEvesounique.ManwastheonlyearthlybeingtowhomGodcreatedinHisimage;thatofspirit.

The spirit of God made it possible for God and Adam to have a very close functioningrelationship.GodcommunicatedwithAdamSpirittospirit.

Genesis1:26and27AKJVAndGodsaid,“LetUsmakemaninOurimage,afterOurlikeness:andletthemhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andoverthecattle,andover all the earth, andover every creeping thing that creepethupon the earth.” SoGod createdman inHis own image, in the image of God createdHe him;male andfemalecreatedHethem.

The first thing we are told after God created man in His image is that He gave themdominionovertheearthandalllivingthingsonit.Thespiritenabledthemtoexertthisdominion.

Psalm8:6-9AKJVThoumadest him to have dominion over theworks of thy hands; thouhast put allthingsunderhisfeet:Allsheepandoxen,yea,andthebeastsofthefield;Thefowloftheair,andthefishofthesea,andwhatsoeverpasseththroughthepathsoftheseas.OLORDourLord,howexcellentisthynameinalltheearth!

ThisrecordagreeswiththerecordinGenesis.AdamwasoriginallyGod’sunder-rulerontheearth. He gave him dominion over theworks of His hands andHe put everything under Adam’sauthority.Asweshallsee,somethingoccurredthatcausedAdamtoforfeithisdominion.

Genesis1:28AKJVAnd God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, andreplenish theearth,andsubdue it: andhavedominionover the fishof thesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andovereverylivingthingthatmovethupontheearth.

GodtoldthemtosubduetheearthandHegavethemdominionoverevery livingthingontheearth.

Hetellsthemtohavechildrenandreplenishtheearth.Howcouldtheyreplenishtheearthunlessithadbeeninhabitedpreviously?

Genesis1:29-31AKJVAndGod said,Behold, I havegivenyoueveryherbbearing seed,which is upon thefaceofalltheearth,andeverytree,inthewhichisthefruitofatreeyieldingseed;toyouitshallbeformeat.Andtoeverybeastoftheearth,andtoeveryfowloftheair,and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have giveneverygreenherbformeat:anditwasso.AndGodsaweverythingthathehadmade,and,behold,itwasverygood.Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethesixthday.


God instructed themwhat theywere to eat. After the flood recorded in Genesis 9:6, Godchangedtheirdietaryinstructions.

Genesis1:2b-2:3outlineshowGodrestoredtheearthmakingitfunctionaloroperationalonceagainafterthecatastrophethatrenderedittohuvabohu,withoutformandvoid.TherecordsummarizesGod’sworkbyeachnightandday.

Genesis 1:1 teaches us that God created the heavens and the earth. Ten times betweenGenesis1:3and2:3,wearetold,“Godsaid....”andsoitbecame.

Aftereachday’swork inGenesis1,Godnotes that itwas “good”.Genesis1:31states thateverything God made was, “very good”. All that God did to reorganize the earth was for man’sbenefit.Itwasnotonlywellorderedandfunctional;itwasbeautiful,fragrantandabundant.

Man wants to discover why our world exists. He wants to discover his purpose. ThespirituallightofGod’sWordanswersthesequestionsinGenesis.

WhydidGodcreatetheheavenandtheearth?HegaveustheanswerinbothGenesisandIsaiah.Hecreatedittobeinhabitedbyman.

Whyaretherelightsinthefirmamentofheavensuchassun,moonandstars?Theansweris, “togive lightupon theearth”and “for signsandseasons”andsowecandistinguish time.Thereasonfortheuniverseistheearth.

WhydidGodmaketheearthsuchabeautiful,magnificentstoreof treasures?WhydidHemake theGarden of Eden or paradise?WhydidHepopulate the earthwithmultiple genera andspeciesoflivingcreaturesthatfunctionontheland,intheair,andinthewaters?Whyistheresuchan abundance and variety of edibleplant life?Why is there such valuablemineralwealth on theearth?Whyistherebeauty?ThereasonthatGodprovidedalloftheseaspectswastopreparetheearthforHisman.Hewasfurnishinghishome,notonlywiththeessentials,butforhisenjoyment.

WhydidHecreateAdaminHisimage?WhenyouconsiderthisrecordandthethirdheavenandearthinRevelation21and22,itbecomesobvious.Godwantedafamily.Helovesus.HewantedtohavefellowshipwithpeoplewhocouldloveHim.ThereasonformanisGod.

Therewasnosickness,fear,death,sorrow,pain,condemnation,etc.Adamknewnothingofevil.AllthatGodprovidedinParadisewas“verygood”;itwasverywellarrangedandabundantlystocked.

Genesis2:1-3AKJVThus theheavensand theearthwere finished,andall thehostof them.Andon theseventhdayGodendedhisworkwhichhehadmade;andherestedon theseventhday from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, andsanctifiedit:becausethatinithehadrestedfromallhisworkwhichGodcreatedandmade.

This concludes God’s restoration of the second heaven and earth. The seventh day GodrestedfromHisachievement.


Genesis2:4beginsanewsubject,“Thesearethegenerationsoftheheavensandoftheearth...”Thischangeinsubjectsindicateswherechapter2shouldbegin.

Remember,therewerenotanychapterdivisionsintheHebreworiginals.Chapterdivisionsareman-madeadditionstothetextandtheywerearbitrarilyinsertedbytheeditorsoftheBibletohelpusfindreferences.Theyarenotofanyhelpwhenitcomestointerpretation.

ThefocusnowturnstoAdam’sfamilyhistory,“thegenerationsoftheheavensandoftheearth”. Although this describes events that occurred at the time given in chapter one, God nowelaboratesoncertainparticularsthatrelatetoAdam’sfamilyhistory.

Genesis2:4-6AKJVThesearethegenerationsoftheheavensandoftheearthwhentheywerecreated,intheday that theLORDGodmade theearthand theheavens,Andeveryplantof thefield before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for theLORDGodhadnotcausedittorainupontheearth,andtherewasnotamantotilltheground.Buttherewentupamist fromtheearth,andwateredthewholefaceoftheground.

Thegroundwaswateredbyamistfromtheearth.Rainisnotmentioneduntil7:4.

Genesis2:7AKJVAnd the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into hisnostrilsthebreathoflife;andmanbecamealivingsoul.

Thisgivesusadditional information thatGenesis1:26and27didnot reveal.God formedman’sbodyoutofthedustofthegroundandHegaveAdambreathlife.

Breath life is soul life. It defines the limits of natural life.When Adam breathed his firstbreath,hebecame“alivingsoul”.WhenAdambreathedhislastbreath,helostthislife.Deathisthelossoflife.

Spirit life issupernatural life;notnatural life.Genesis1:27saidthatGodcreatedAdaminHisownimage,thatofspirit.Heformedhisbodyfromthedustofthegroundandbreathedintohisnostrilsthebreathoflife;soullife.Thus,Adamhadspiritlife,aphysicalbody,andsoullife.

Wemust recognize that therearedifferentcategoriesof life. Soulorbreath life isnaturallife,spiritlifeisanothercategory;plantlife,cellularlife,etc.arealldifferentcategoriesoflife.Soullifeissoullife.Spiritlifeisspiritlife,etc.Eachisaspecific,separatecategoryoflife.

Adambecamea“livingsoul”,whichisnepheshchaiintheHebrew.Alivingsoulconsistsofabodyandsoullife,whichis“thebreathoflife”.

Attimes,byafigureofspeech,thepersonhimselfisreferredtoasa“soul”,whereapartofmanrepresents thewholeperson.Man’s identityasaperson isparticular to thecategoryofsoullife.

Isthe“soul”immortal?


Psalm22:29AKJVAlltheythatbefatuponearthshalleatandworship:alltheythatgodowntothedust[thegrave]shallbowbeforehim:andnonecankeepalivehisownsoul.

Psalm89:48Lamsa Whoisthemanwholivesandshallnotseedeath?ShallhedeliverhissoulfromthehandofSheol[thegrave]?

Matthew10:28AKJVAndfearnotthemwhichkillthebody,butarenotabletokillthesoul:butratherfearhimwhichisabletodestroybothsoulandbodyinhell[gehenna].

FromtheseScriptures,we learnthat there isnosuchthingasthe immortalityof thesoul.Thereisanendtosoullife,whichisdeath.Thesoulcandieandfurthermore,itcanbedestroyed.

ThereisnohumanlifewithoutboththebodyandsoulbeingunitedinthesamepersonasfarastheWordofGodteaches.Soulsdon’texistoutsideofthebodyafterdeath.

Howissoullifepassedontoone’schildren?Leviticus17:11says,“Forthelifeofthefleshisintheblood...”Humanlifeispassedtotheoffspringinthebloodduringintercourse.

Man originally consisted of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Soul life is natural life andspirit is spiritual, supernatural life.Wemustnot confuse these two categoriesof life ifweare tounderstandtheWordofGod.

Genesis2:8and9AKJVAnd the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put themanwhomhehadformed.AndoutofthegroundmadetheLORDGodtogroweverytreethatispleasanttothesight,andgoodforfood;thetreeoflifealsointhemidstofthegarden,andthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil.

AdamlivedinthegardenofGod.Eden istheHebrewnameforthegarden;Paradise istheGreekname for it. In every reference to it in the Scriptures, EdenorParadise always refers to aplaceonearth.

God not only provided the necessities of life for Adam, He put him in paradise well-appointedwithbeauty,abundanceandenjoyablefood.Healsogavehimaccesstothetreeoflife.

Genesis2:10-15AKJVAndariverwentoutofEdentowaterthegarden;andfromthenceitwasparted,andbecameintofourheads.ThenameofthefirstisPison:thatisitwhichcompasseththewholelandofHavilah,wherethereisgold;Andthegoldofthatlandisgood:thereisbdelliumandtheonyxstone.AndthenameofthesecondriverisGihon:thesameisitthat compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river isHiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river isEuphrates.AndtheLORDGodtooktheman,andputhimintothegardenofEdentodressitandtokeepit.


GoddidnotplaceAdaminawildernessorinthefield.HeplacedhimintheGardenofEdenorparadise.Ithadanabundantwatersupply.Adamwastodressandkeepthegarden.

Genesis2:16and17AKJV AndtheLORDGodcommandedtheman,saying,ofeverytreeofthegardenthou mayestfreelyeat:Butofthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,thoushaltnoteat ofit:forinthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie.

GodgaveAdamacommandment.Thecondemnationforhisdisobediencewouldbe,“...inthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie.”

The Hebrew uses the infinitive absolute here, which intensifies the main verb. In otherwords, theHebrewsentencerepeatsthesameverbtwice inarow,once inthe infinitiveabsoluteform,andagaininaconjugatedorinflectedform.Itreads,“dyingyeshalldie”.

This forms the figure of speech, Polyptoton. It is used with the words “eat” and “die”.Polyptoton is the repetition of the part of speechwith different inflections. Literally it would berendered “eating thoumayest eat” emphasizing their freedom to eat and “dying thou shalt die”,whichemphasizesthecertaintyofthefact.Theword“surely”means“youshallmostcertainlydie”.Therewasnoquestionaboutit.

Whenwould the condemnationbepassed ifhedisobeyed the command? ". . . in thedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie."Hewoulddiethatveryday.

Adamhadfreewill.Hecouldchoosetoobeyortodisobey.Therewerepositiveornegativeconsequencestothechoiceshemade.Ifheobeyed,hewouldreapthebenefitsthatGodintended.Ifhedisobeyed,heplacedhimselfinapositionthatGodcouldnothelphim–hewasonhisown.

Genesis2:18-20AKJVAndtheLORDGodsaid,Itisnotgoodthatthemanshouldbealone;Iwillmakehimanhelpmeetforhim.AndoutofthegroundtheLORDGodformedeverybeastofthefieldandeveryfowloftheair;andbroughtthemuntoAdamtoseewhathewouldcallthem:andwhatsoeverAdamcalledeverylivingcreaturethatwas thenamethereof.AndAdamgavenamestoallcattle,andtothefowloftheairandtoeverybeastofthefield;butforAdamtherewasnotfoundanhelpmeetforhim.

The LORD God created Adam in His image, that of spirit; they could freely communicatewithoneanotherandworktogether.GodgaveAdamdominionintheearthoveralllivingcreatures.Adamnamedthem,also.Thesenamesandclassificationsholduptothisveryday.

Genesis2:21-25AKJVAndtheLORDGodcausedadeepsleeptofalluponAdam,andheslept:andhetookoneofhisribs,andclosedupthefleshinsteadthereof;Andtherib,whichtheLORDGod had taken fromman, made he a woman, and brought her unto theman. AndAdamsaid,This isnowboneofmybones,and fleshofmy flesh: sheshallbecalledWoman,becauseshewastakenoutofMan.Thereforeshallamanleavehisfatherandhismother,andshallcleaveuntohiswife:andtheyshallbeoneflesh.Andtheywerebothnaked,themanandhiswife,andwerenotashamed.


GodprovidedahelpmateorcompanionforAdamsothathewouldnotbealone.EverythingthatGoddidtorestoretheearthwasforAdam’sbenefit.AdamandEveonlyknewthatwhichwas“verygood”uptonow.TheywereclosewithGodandtheywerenotashamed.

AtthispointintheDivinenarrative,anewcharacterisintroduced.

TheEntranceoftheSerpent

Genesis3:1aAKJVNowtheserpentwasmoresubtilthananybeastofthefieldwhichtheLORDGodhadmade.

Who is this serpent? The word for “serpent” is nachash in the Hebrew. The New BrownDriverBriggsGesenius,referringtoGenesis3:1,2,4,13,and14itsays,“craftytempter”(F.Brown1981Reprint).

Therecordtellsusthatthisserpentwasmoresubtleorcraftythananybeast,whichis,anycreatedbeingofthefield.IsthiscreatedbeingmentionedanywhereelseinGod’sWord?

Revelation12:9AKJV Andthegreatdragonwascastout,thatoldserpent,calledtheDevil,andSatan,which deceiveththewholeworld:hewascastoutintotheearth,andhisangelswerecast outwithhim.

TheoldserpentofGenesis3isliterallythespiritbeingidentifiedintheWordofGodastheDevilandSatan.Thereisonlyonedistinguishingcharacteristicstatedabouthimhere.Hedeceivesthewholeworld.

Genesis 3:1 is not speaking of amythical talking snake. A snake does not have any vocalchords;therefore,itcannottalk.TheWordofGodusesafigureofspeechofcomparisontoidentifythiscreatedbeing.

Asimileuses“like”or“as”tomakeacomparisonsuchas,“Heislikeasnake”.Ametaphormakes a stronger comparison by using the verb to be. “He is a snake.” Hypocatastasis is thestrongestfigureofcomparison,“TheSnake!”

IICorinthiansreferstothisserpent,also.

IICorinthians11:3AKJVButIfear,lestbyanymeans,astheserpentbeguiledEvethroughhissubtilty,soyourmindsshouldbecorruptedfromthesimplicitythatisinChrist.

TheWordofGodidentifiestheserpentasthedeceiver.Theserpentbeguiled;hedeceivedEvethroughhis“subtilty”,hiscraftinessorcunning.InGenesis3:13,Godasked,“Whatisthisthouhastdone?”andEvereplied,“Theserpentbeguiledme...”

In the record inGenesis3, the serpentdidnot comeout in opposition toGodat first.HecametoEveasanangeloflight.Ezekiel28shedsmorelightonthisspiritbeing.


Ezekiel28:12b-14AKJVThou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty, Thou hast been inEdenthegardenofGod;everypreciousstonewastheycovering, thesardius, topaz,and thediamond, theberyl, theonyx,and the jasper, the sappire, theemerald,andthe carbuncle, and gold; The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes waspreparedintheeinthedaythatthouwastcreated.Thouarttheanointedcherubthatcovereth;andIhavesettheeso:thouwastupontheholymountainofGod;thouhastwalkedupanddowninthemidstofthestonesoffire.

Genesis3saidthathewas“moresubtil”orwise20thananycreatedbeingofthefieldwhichthe Lord Godmade. The revelation here says that he was, “. . . full of wisdom and perfect inbeauty”.HehadbeeninEden,thegardenofGod.

Eve was not seduced by a mythical snake, but by a glorious spirit being. He was God’s“anointedcherubthatcovereth”.

Theword "covereth" is sakak. The first five uses of this Hebrewword for “cover” are inrelationshiptotheArkoftheCovenant.Luciferdweltinthetrueholyplacesafterwhichtheearthlyonewasdesigned.ThiscoveringcherubwastheserpentofGenesis3.Hewasbothfullofwisdomandperfectinbeauty;hetraffickedinevilandwasfilledwithviolence.

TheWordofGodclearlyidentifieshim.Thescripturesunveilhimtous;hisperson,motives,abilities,andcharacter.

ThissamespiritbeingcametoJesus inthewilderness.TheWordofGodidentifieshimasthe tempter, thedevil and Satan.21He evenquoted theWordofGod to the Lord Jesus; out of itspropercontextofcourse,withthemotivetotempttheSonofGod.HeknowstheWordofGodbutheusesitagainstGod’speople.

TherecordinMatthew4:8and9revealsthatall thekingdomsoftheworldareunderhisauthority.Thisspiritbeingdeceivesthewholeworld.

Therearetwospiritualkingdoms:theoneoftheGodandFatherofthelordJesusChristandthe other headedby the god of thisworldwho is theDevil, Satan, the serpent, the prince of thepoweroftheair;the“so-called”godofthisworld.

Youcannotdetectspiritwiththefivesenses,butmakenomistakeaboutit;thetwospiritualkingdomsabsolutelyexist.Youcanseetheeffectorresultsoftheirworkinthesensesrealm.

TheWordofGodrevealseverythingweneedtoknowaboutspiritualmatters,butbecausepeople are not educated by God’s revelation, the serpent is able to orchestrate his realm of evilundetected and unknown to them. These same people usually blame the One True God for theserpent’swork.Aswehaveread,Hedeceivesthewholeworld.

20 Arum: Can be used both positively and negatively: wise, shrewd or crafty. 21 See: Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.


The serpent in Eden, the garden of God,was originally an angel of light,whowas full ofwisdom and perfect in beauty. Hewas not amythical talking snake, but the anointed cherub ofwhichIsaiah14andEzekiel28speak.

He desired to be like theMost High God. He rebelled against God and tried to seize Histhrone.HisownbeautycorruptedhimandHearrogantlypervertedhiswisdom.

Evewas literallydealingwithagloriousspiritualbeing, identifiedby the figureof speechhypocatastasisas“theserpent”.

Genesis3:1bAKJVNowtheserpentwasmoresubtilthananybeastofthefieldwhichtheLORDGodhadmade.Andhesaiduntothewoman,Yea,hathGodsaid,Yeshallnoteatofeverytreeofthegarden?

Itisvitalthatwetakenoteofthefirstrecordedwordsoutoftheserpent’smouth.Hesaid,“Yea, hath God said . . .?” His first utterance in theWord of God is extremely significant. Theserpent questioned the integrity of God’s Word (its truthfulness, accuracy, validity, veracity.reliability) inaneffort todeceiveEveso thatshewouldreject theWordofGodand forsakeGod.TheserpentwantedhertotakehiswordoverGod’s.

Hispurposehasnot changed;hisprimarypurpose to thisday is togetpeople to takehiswordoverGod’s.IfhecandistorttheWordofGodandseducepeopletobelievewhathesays,thereisnothingtopreventhimfromdeceivingaman,orforthatmatterthewholeworld.

First, he asks Eve a question, his aim being to undermine God’sWord and cause Eve todoubtit.Howdidsherespond?

Genesis3:2and3AKJVAnd the woman said unto the serpent,Wemay eat of the fruit of the trees of thegarden:Butofthefruitofthetreewhichisinthemidstofthegarden,Godhathsaid,Yeshallnoteatofit,neithershallyetouchit,lestyedie.

Eve considered the serpent’s question and responded to it. This was her first mistake.ComparewhatGodtoldAdamagainstEve’sresponsetotheserpentinthefollowingoutline:


WhatGodsaid:

Genesis2:16-17AV

WhatEvesaid:

Genesis3:2-3AV

AndtheLORDGodcommandedtheman,saying,ofeverytreeofthegardenthoumayestfreelyeat...

Andthewomansaiduntotheserpent,Wemayeatofthefruitofthetreesofthegarden...

...Butofthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,thoushaltnoteatofit...

...Butofthefruitofthetreewhichisinthemidstofthegarden,Godhadsaid,Yeshallnoteatofit,neithershallyetouchit,

...forinthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie.

...lestyedie.

Noticethatsheleftouttheword“freely”.Shethenadded,“Neithershallyetouchit”.Next,shechangedthecertaintyoftheWordofGodintoapossibility,“lest(perhaps)yedie.”

IfIchangedwhatyousaidtothisextent,woulditstillbeyourword?No,itwouldnot.Youmight evenbequiteupsetwithme for alteringwhat you said.The serpentdeceivedEve. ShenolongerheldtotheintegrityofGod’sWordandtheserpentseizedontheopportunity.

Genesis3:4and5AKJVAndtheserpentsaiduntothewoman,Yeshallnotsurelydie:ForGoddothknowthatin the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,knowinggoodandevil.

What was the serpent’s second recorded statement? He said, “Ye shall not surely die”,whichwas theexactoppositeofwhatGodsaid inGenesis2:16and17. In fact,his lie completelycontradictedwhatGodsaid.

Allpagan religionsembrace thisbeliefof immortality inone formoranother to thisveryday.Theyteachthatdeathisthedoorwhichleadstolife.Thisisthefoundationoftheteachingoftheimmortalsoul.22

Nowwatchwherehegoeswiththis,“...andyeshallbeasgods,knowinggoodandevil.”

AftereachdayofGod’sworktoputthesecondheavenandearthinworkingorderGodsawthatitwas“good”.

Genesis1:31AKJVAndGod sawevery thing thathehadmade, and, behold, itwas very good.And theeveningandthemorningwerethesixthday.

22 See: The Immortal Soul in the master manuscript.


The conclusion of God’s work is markedwith the word, “Behold”. This word acts as thefigure of speech, asterismos, to mark what follows with great emphasis; “BEHOLD!!!” TheconclusionofGod’sworktoordertheheavenandtheearthtoprovideformanwas,“BEHOLD!!!ItwasVERYGOOD!!!”

EverythingGoddid toprovide forman’shomewas to this end. Itwaswell-ordered, rich,beautiful, prosperous, valuable,profitable andbeneficial, andyet the serpenthad theaudacity tosay that he could improve on God’s work with the knowledge of evil. These statements by theserpentformulate“thelie”thatheperpetratescontinuallythroughoutman’shistory.

Thedevil’sprimarysphereofattackistodistortGod’sWord.DidGodreallysay?HisattackwithustodayisnodifferentthanitwaswithEve.HedeceivesandpersuadespeopletobelievehisliesasthoughtheyarethetruthoftheWordofGod,thesameashedidwithEve.

IfthedevilcandeceiveapersontotheendthathenolongerbelievesGod’sWord,themanplaysrightintohishand.Hehashimrightwherehewantshim,andhecanmanipulatehimwithoutdetection.

The old serpent questions God’sWord and skillfully introduces doubt. If we respond byconsideringwhathesays,addtotheWordofGod,deletewhatwedonotthinkiskosher,andthenchangeittofitwithourideas,hewillhaveusatthesameplacehehadEve.WewillnotbelievethetruthofGod’sWord,butwewillbetakeninbyhislies.

DoyouseewhyitissoimportanttostudytoshowyourselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanwhodoesnotneedtobeashamed,rightlydividingtheWordofGod?

Genesis3:5AKJVForGoddothknowthatinthedayyeeatthereof,thenyoureyesshallbeopened,andyeshallbeasgods,knowinggoodandevil.

Whatdidtheserpentpromisethem?Hesaidthattheywouldbelikegods,whichisthebasisoftheteachingthatthereisasparkofthedivineineveryone.Thisishisnextlie.

Next, he offered them the knowledge of evil, which was supposed to improve on theknowledgeofgoodthatGodprovidedforthem.Theserpentisthedeceiverandthereisnotruthinhim.

Duringhisearthlyministry,JesusChristexposedhowtheadversaryworks.Hesaidthatthedevilwas“thefatheroflies”andthattherewas“notruthinhim”inJohn8:44.Heisidentifiedas“thetempter.”HetemptsustonotbelievewhatGodsays,buttolistentohim.

InJohn10:10,JesusChristsaidthatthedevilwas“athief”andthathecame,“. . .tostealandtokillandtodestroy.”HeendeavorstostealthepromisesofGodfromus.Thedevilhasthepower of death.23Hewould like to destroyman also,which iswhat he does to thosewho rejectGod’sofferofsalvation.

JesusChristalsosaid,“Hewasamurdererfromthebeginning”.ThefourGospelrecordsrevealthesetruthsaswellasothers.23 See: Hebrews 2:14.


TheserpentwastheoneresponsibleforthepremeditatedmurderofAdamandEveaswellastheentirehumanrace, forinthedayheseducedthemandtheydisobeyedGodtheydidsurelydie.TheimageofGodthatGodcreatedinthemdied.TheylostthespiritlifethatGodgavethem.

Thisshamefulspiritbeing–theserpent–cunninglyseducedEvethroughhiscraftiness.HeconvincedhertobelievehisliesinsteadofGod’sWord.

Genesis3:6and7AKJVAndwhenthewomansawthatthetreewasgoodforfood,andthatitwaspleasanttotheeyes,andatreetobedesiredtomakeonewise,shetookofthefruitthereof,anddid eat, and gave alsountoherhusbandwithher; andhedid eat. And the eyes ofthem bothwere opened, and they knew that theywere naked; and they sewed figleavestogether,andmadethemselvesaprons.

Evedecidedtogobyherfivesenses,herfeelings,anddesiresinsteadoftherevealedWordofGod.Theconsequencesofthisdecisionwerecatastrophicasweshallsee.Theserpentseducedherwithhislies,andshedisobeyedGod’sWord.Beforethis,GodledthembyHisWordandbyHisspirit.

Genesis3:8-10AKJVAndtheyheardthevoiceoftheLORDGodwalkinginthegardeninthecooloftheday:andAdamandhiswifehidthemselvesfromthepresenceoftheLORDGodamongstthe trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him,Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid,becauseIwasnaked;andIhidmyself.

WedidnotreadthattheyhidfromGodbeforethis,didwe?This isthefirsttimewereadthattheywereafraidofGodandhidfromHim.

Genesis3:11and12AKJVAndhesaid,Whotoldtheethatthouwastnaked?Hastthoueatenofthetree,whereofIcommandedtheethatthoushouldestnoteat?Andthemansaid,Thewomanwhomthougavesttobewithme,shegavemeofthetree,andIdideat.

Adamshiftstheblame.TheoldserpentseducedEve,butAdammadeadeliberatedecisiontodisobeyGod.

Next,Godinquiredofthewomanastowhatoccurred.

Genesis3:13AKJVAnd theLORDGodsaidunto thewoman,What is this that thouhastdone?And thewomansaid,Theserpentbeguiledme,andIdideat.

NowtheLordGodturnsHisattentiontotheserpentandpronounceshiscondemnation.

Genesis3:14and15AKJVAndtheLORDGodsaiduntotheserpent,Becausethouhastdonethis,thouartcursedaboveallcattle,andaboveeverybeastofthefield;uponthybellyshaltthougo,and


dustshaltthoueatallthedaysofthylife:AndIwillputenmitybetweentheeandthewoman,andbetweenthyseedandherseed; itshallbruisethyhead,andthoushaltbruisehisheel.

TherewereconsequencesforAdamandEve’sdisobedience,butGodidentifiestheserpentastheculpritthatorchestratedthedisaster.

Genesis3:15AKJVAnd Iwillputenmitybetween theeand thewoman,andbetween thy seedandherseed;itshallbruisethyhead,andthoushaltbruisehisheel.

Several translations translate the word “bruise” as “crush”. One of these is the NewInternationalVersion.

Genesis3:15NIVAndIwillputenmitybetweenyouandthewoman,andbetweenyouroffspringandhers;hewillcrush24yourhead,andyouwillstrikehisheel.

Godpronouncedtheserpent’sjudgmentorcondemnation.

• Godputenmitybetweentheserpent,whowasaspiritbeingandthewoman,whowasahumanbeing.Enmityexistsbetweenadversaries.

• Healsoputenmitybetweentheseedoftheserpent,whichisspiritseedandtheseedofthewoman,whowouldbelikeAdam,ahumanbeing,thesonofman.

• Theseedofthewomanshallbruise(crush)theheadoftheserpent.Thispronouncestheserpent’sutterdefeatandend.Christwillaccomplishthisduringhissecondcomingtotheearth.

• Theserpentwillbruisetheheeloftheseedofthewoman,whichforeshadowsthedeathof Christ.However, God raised him from the dead. Looking back, we know that thisreferstoChrist’sfirstcoming.

TherecordinGenesis3describestheconflictoftheagesbetweenGodandtheserpentandbetweentheseedoftheserpentandtheseedofthewoman.Thisencounterchangedthecourseofhumanhistory.

GodtoldAdamthat,“...inthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie”.NowtherewasaneedforaRedeemer,aSavior.

The Redeemer, the last Adam, will have to recover the losses brought about by Adam’sdisobedience,hisconsequentcondemnation,andlossofthespirit,andseparationfromGod.

Inthefaceofthisdisasterinparadise,Godgavemancertainhope.Inverse15,wehavethefirstreferencetothecomingoftheseedofthewoman.

Thewoman’s seedwillbe theRedeemer from thecondemnationof the sinand thedeaththatAdambroughtuponmankind.Lookingback,weknowthatthewoman’sseedisChristandthat

24 Shuwph: v; AV-bruise 2, break 1, cover 1; 4: 1) to bruise, crush, gape upon.


hewasbornofwomanlikeallothermen.HewouldbethesecondAdam,and,unlikethefirstone,hewouldobeytheWordandWillofGod.

TheWordofGod reveals howGodbrought the seedof thewoman to his birth,what thepromisedseedaccomplished,andhisultimatedefeatoftheserpent.

Godpronouncedtheserpent’scondemnationandhumiliation.ThistakesustothetimesofthebookofRevelationtotheendofGod’scontroversywiththeserpent.Revelation20:10recordsHisend.Wewillcoverthesesubjectslateron.

WhatdidGodnextsaytoEveandAdam?

Genesis3:16AKJVUnto thewoman he said, I will greatlymultiply thy sorrow and thy conception; insorrowthoushaltbringforthchildren;andthydesireshallbetothyhusband,andheshallruleoverthee.

Genesis3:17-19AKJV AnduntoAdamhesaid,Becausethouhasthearkeneduntothevoiceofthywife,and

hast eatenof the tree, ofwhich I commanded thee, saying,Thou shalt not eat of it:cursedisthegroundforthysake;insorrowshaltthoueatofitallthedaysofthylife;Thornsalsoandthistlesshallitbringforthtothee;andthoushalteattheherbofthefield; Inthesweatof thyfaceshalt thoueatbread, till thoureturnuntotheground;foroutofitwastthoutaken:fordustthouart,anduntodustshaltthoureturn.

Thecreationfellintoastateofruin.Thegroundwascursedanditbroughtforththornsandthistles, which includes all kinds of toxic plants. The serpent’s lie and their disobedience evenaffectednature.

Theywouldhavetoeattheherbofthefieldinsteadofthebountyofparadise.Adamwouldliveinsorrowandhewouldhavetolaborforhisfooduntilhereturnedtothedust.

The Paradise Administration was ruined. Instead of a close functioning relationshipbetweenGod andAdam,Adamwas afraid ofHim, andhid fromHim.Theday that he disobeyedGod’sWord,hedied;helostthespiritofGod.

Thegroundwas cursedandhewas sentenced toa lifeof laborandsorrow.Adam’sbodywasformedoutoftheelementsofthedust,andhewouldreturnuntothedustupondeath.

InsteadofbeingGod’sunderrulerandhavingdominionoverGod’screationtherewasalsoaradicalchangeinthedominionthatGodhadentrustedtohim.

Luke4givesusinsightintothischange.ThiseventtookplaceattheendofthefortydaysoftemptationthatJesusChristenduredinthewilderness.

Luke4:5-8AVAndthedevil, takinghim[Jesus]up intoanhighmountain,sheweduntohimall thekingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All thispowerwill I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivereduntome; and towhomsoeverIwillIgiveit.Ifthouthereforewiltworshipme,allshallbethine.And


Jesusansweredandsaiduntohim,Gettheebehindme,Satan:foritiswritten,ThoushaltworshiptheLordthyGod,andhimonlyshaltthouserve.

Thedevilsaidthatthepowerandthegloryofthekingdomsoftheworldweredeliveredtohimandthathecouldgivethegloryofthemtowhomsoeverhechosetogiveit.Thecosttoobtainthispowerandglorywastoworshiphim.

Thedevil said, “. . . that isdelivereduntome”.Whohandedover thedominion tohim?AdamsurrenderedthedominionthatGodoriginallyentrustedtohimtotheDevil.Adamoriginallyhaditbutherelinquishedit.Inhistransgression,hehandeditovertothedevil.

If thedevil didnot in fact have it, the Lordwouldhave confrontedhimwith the truth ofGod’sWordashedidwiththeothertemptations.

Now let’s see, before Adam disobeyed God’s Word he only knew that which was “verygood”;helivedinparadise,whichGodabundantlyfurnishedwithallthenecessaryresourcesthatheneededandmore.

Adambeganwith an intimate relationshipwithGod.Hewas created inHis image,whichwas spirit. He communicated with Him spirit to Spirit. He was God’s under ruler and he haddominionoverHiscreation.

HewasnotafraidofGod.Wedonotreadof fearuntilafterhedisobeyedGod.Hehadnosorrow.Hedidnotknowsicknessordeath.

Whenhedecidedtotaketheserpent’sliesanddisobeyGod,hediedspiritually;henolongerenjoyedaspiritrelationshipwithGod.HewasafraidofGodandtriedtohidefromHim.

Hedeliveredhisdominionintheearthovertothedevilandthedevilbecametheprinceofthisworld.

Naturechanged;thegroundwascursedanditbroughtforthharmfulplants.

Now Adam had to eat from the field, not from the garden or paradise, which God hadsuppliedforhim.Itwouldrequirehardworkandtherewouldbesorrowuntilthedayhephysicallydiedandreturnedtodust.

Genesis3:20and21AKJVAndAdamcalledhiswife’snameEve;becauseshewasthemotherofallliving.UntoAdamalsoandtohiswifedidtheLordGodmakecoatsofskins,andclothedthem.

When they realized that they were naked, they sowed fig leaves together and madethemselvesaprons.

ComparetheirattempttocoverthemselvestohowGodclothedthem.Heclothedthemwithcoatsofskins,whichpointstothepromisedseedthatwouldredeemmanbyhisshedblood.

TheserpenttoldEvethattheywouldbeasgods,they’dbewiseknowinggoodandevilandthattheywouldnotsurelydie.Howdidthatworkout?Didhiswordprovetobethetruthorthelie?Didtheserpent’sofferimproveonwhatGodprovidedAdamandEve?DidtheknowledgeofgoodandevilmakeAdamandEvelikegods?


Genesis3:22AVAnd theLORDGodsaid,Behold, theman isbecomeasoneofus, toknowgoodandevil:andnow,lestheputforthhishand,andtakealsoofthetreeoflife,andeat,andliveforever:

InGenesis 3:22God says, “Behold theman isbecomeasoneofus . . .”Hadhe in factbecomelikeGod?Nothingcouldhavebeenfurtherfromthetruthaccordingtowhatwejustreadinthecontext;justtheoppositewastrue.Whatisstatediscontrarytotherealitythatoccurred.Theword“Behold”actslikeanasterisktomarkthegravitythatfollowed.

Whensomeoneintendstoexpressasenseoppositetothestrictmeaningofthewords,itistheuseofthefigureofspeech,irony.25Thisfiguredrawsourattentiontotheserpent’slieinversefive and how false his claim trulywas. Believing the serpent’s lies resulted in tragedy for them.Theirlivesbecamearuin,adisaster.

Attheendofverse22,anotherfigureisused.

. . .andnow,lestheputforthhishand,andtakealsoofthetreeoflife,andeat,andliveforever:

The sentence stops abruptly, leavingus in suspense.The sudden silence is theuseof thefigure of speech, aposiopesis.26 This figure places emphasis on the unspeakable consequencesshouldtheyeatofthetreeoflife.IfAdamateofthetreeoflifeafterthesentenceofcondemnationwaspassed,itwouldhavemademan’sredemptionimpossibleandhisfatewouldhavebeensealedforever.Hewouldhavebeenunredeemableandwithouthope.

Genesis3:23and24AKJVTherefore theLORDGod senthim forth from thegardenofEden, to till thegroundfromwhencehewastaken.Sohedroveouttheman;andheplacedattheeastofthegardenofEdenCherubims,andaflamingswordwhichturnedeveryway,tokeepthewayofthetreeoflife.

Thisisquiteacontrastfromhowtheylivedinparadiseisitnot?GoddroveAdamfromthegardenandplacedspiritbeings,cherubim,withaflamingsword,whichturnedeverywaytokeeptheway to the tree of life. A cherub is a powerful spirit being, such as the anointed cherub thatcovered.

ThebookofGenesisisthebookofbeginnings.Itreveals:

• thebeginningofGod’screation:thefirstheavenandearth

• thebeginningofthesecondheavenandearth

• thebeginningofparadise

• thebeginningofman

• thebeginningofGod’sdealingswithman

25 (Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible: Explained and Illustrated. 1975 ed) Page 808. 26 Ibid.


• thebeginningofthegenerationsofman

• thebeginningoftheserpent’sdominionoftheearth

• thebeginningoftheenmitybetweentheserpentandthewomanandbetweentheserpent’sseedandthewoman’sseed

• thebeginningofthereignofsinanddeath

• thebeginningoftherevelationconcerningthepromisedseed

• thebeginningofthefamily,thetribeandthenationofIsraelfromwhichtheseedwouldcomethatmakesupChrist’sgenealogicalline

These are examples, not a complete list of everybeginning given inGenesis. ThebookofRevelationisthecounterparttothebookofGenesis.

As Genesis reveals the beginning of the first heaven and earth, and then of the secondheavenandearth,andtheoverthrowofGod’srestoredorder,thebookofRevelationconcernstheeventsleadinguptoandconcerningitsendandthebeginningofthethirdheavenandearth.

Forexample,Revelation19:11-19describesChristastheKingofkingsandLordoflords.HecomestoclaimthedominionoftheearththatAdamlost.Herulesfor1000yearsandsubduesallenemies.HeresurrectsGod’speoplefromthedead.HefulfillsIsrael’scovenantsandaccomplishesallthattheWordofGodforetells.

Godcommittedalljudgmentuntohim.Whenhecomestotheearththesecondtime,hewilljudgethebeastandhisfalseprophet,thosethatfollowedhim,thedevilandtheangelsthatfollowedhim,Israelandthenations.TheserpentfindshisendinRevelation20:10.

Revelation21:1revealsthatGodwillmakeanewheavenandanewearth.In21:5,HesaysthatHewillmakeall thingsnewagain.Thecurse is removed inRevelation21:3.Revelation2:7foretells of the restoration of paradise and access to the tree of life. Access to the tree of life isrestoredin22:2.Revelation21:3revealsthatGodwillonceagaindwellamongHispeople.Hewillwipeawayall tears from theireyes. InRevelation21:4,He removeseverything that caused theirpainandsorrow,includingdeath.

Revelation21:5AKJV Andhethatsatuponthethronesaid,Behold,Imakeallthingsnew.Andhesaidunto

me,Write:forthesewordsaretrueandfaithful.

God’sWordisalwaystrueandfaithful.AfterreadingGenesis3weknowthattheserpentisthefatherofliesandthereisnotruthinhim.

GodfulfilledHisWordconcerningthecomingofthepromisedseed.HeprovidedthewomanaseedbyDivineconception.HeraisedhimfromthedeadasHepromised.Likewise,HewillcomeagainaccordingtotheWordofGod.

ICorinthians15:24-28NIVThentheendwillcome,whenhe[Christ]handsoverthekingdomtoGodtheFatherafterhehasdestroyedalldominion,authorityandpower.Forhe[Christ]mustreignuntil he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is


death.Forhe"hasputeverythingunderhisfeet".Nowwhenitsaysthat"everything"hasbeenputunderhim[Christ],itisclearthatthisdoesnotincludeGodhimself,whoputeverythingunderChrist.Whenhehasdonethis,thentheSonhimself[Christ]willbemadesubjecttohim[God]whoputeverythingunderhim[Christ],sothatGodmaybeallinall.

AfterChristsubduesallenemies,GodwillmakeallthingsnewagainaccordingtoHisWord.

In the faceof thecatastrophe inparadise,Godgavemancertainhope.Thewoman’s seedwouldbetheRedeemerandSaviorfromtheresultsofAdam’sdisobedienceandcondemnation.

SinceGodfulfilledHisWordconcerningthefirstcomingofthelordJesusChrist,wecanbeconfidentthatHewillfulfillHispromisesconcerningHissecondcoming.

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